Carly Fiorina is a former candidate for U.S. Senate in California and the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard.

“Carly is an example of a diverse set of Republican candidates who are ready to take on the status quo and push for pragmatic solutions to our country’s problems,” said Debbie Maestas Chairwoman for the Republican Party of New Mexico in a statement this week.

In a statement as part of the April announcement, Maestas said, “New Mexico has an exciting opportunity to hear from such a high-powered and well-respected business woman paired with her political background.”

Fiorina announced her presidential run on Monday, the same day as former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee announced he would once again seek the nomination. The day before, physician Ben Carson announced his run. They joined a trio of U.S. Senators—Ted Cruz of Texas, Marco Rubio of Florida and Rand Paul of Kentucky—in the race.

The severance package, called a “golden parachute” by her critics and political opponents, became an issue in Fiorina’s U.S. Senate campaign. Fiorina landed the Republican nomination in that contest, but lost in the general election to incumbent Barbara Boxer.

Another half dozen high profile Republicans are considering jumping into the race, including former Florida governor Jeb Bush and New Jersey governor Chris Christie.

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Matthew Reichbach is the editor of the NM Political Report. The former founder and editor of the NM Telegram, Matthew was also a co-founder of New Mexico FBIHOP with his brother and one of the original hires at the groundbreaking website the New Mexico Independent. Matthew has covered events such as the Democratic National Convention and Netroots Nation and formerly published, “The Morning Word,” a daily political news summary for NM Telegram and the Santa Fe Reporter.
Matthew has appeared as a panelist for the Society of Professional Journalists’ New Mexico Chapter’s panel on covering New Mexico politics and the legislature.
A native New Mexican from Rio Rancho, Matthew’s family has been in New Mexico since the 1600s.